At the 1000 GMT ranking today, Vincent RIOU (PRB) has stretched out his lead to 13 miles over Jean LE CAM (Bonduelle). Meanwhile, Mike GOLDING (Ecover) has tumbled down the ranking into 3rd position, dropping from a 2 mile deficit on the leader to 21.2 miles in the space of just 6 hours.

In the last 4 hours he is clocked at an average of just 9.6 knots and, easy as it is to speculate, the only thing that is clear before speaking with him at the radio session at 1045 GMT is that there is something not quite right, with PRB making an average of 15.2 knots over the same period in a similar zone.

The top trio are currently sailing through big squalls with massive rotations in the wind. Behind them Sébastien JOSSE (VMI) may be able make up some considerable ground on the front of the fleet as there is a chance that his more southerly position will allow him to get the right side of the anticyclone ahead of him.

Further back things don't look quite so bright for Joé SEETEN (Arcelor Dunkerque), Conrad HUMPHREYS (Hellomoto) and Bruce SCHWAB (Ocean Planet). They are all in a depression giving them 45 knot averages and gusts of up to 60 knots, torn between heading further south off course into less wind with an increased risk of encountering icebergs or toughing it out on a better course in bigger winds.

Nearly 6000 miles from the front of the fleet, Karen LEIBOVICI may well be caught by a warm front on Wednesday evening and then a cold front on Thursday evening, the latter giving her 30/40 knot winds and big seas. At her current speed, she may outpace the system though.

Tom Burton (AUS) and Alison Young (GBR) hit the right note in the Laser and Laser Radial at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as they took out the top honours and qualification spots to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.

It was double Australian gold in the Paralympic classes. Matt Bugg (AUS) came out on top in the 2.4mR whilst London 2012 Paralympic SKUD18 gold medallists Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (AUS) were triumphant in the two person keelboat.

Lithuania's Juozas Bernotas came out on top in the Men's RS:X whilst Russia's Stefania Elfutina was triumphant in the Women's RS:X. Both sailors claim the first Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final spots whilst Jock Calvert (AUS) and Joanna Sterling (AUS) picked up the Oceanic spots for the Emirati finale.

There was some fast paced action in the 49er and 49erFX Medal Races at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen (AUS) and Maia & Ragna Agerup (NOR) claimed the honours and Abu Dhabi final spots.

A tight group of five young Papua New Guinean (PNG) Laser sailors are stepping up their 2015 Pacific Games competition program using this week's ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne. PNG is one of 33 countries represented at the important Oceanic event, the largest Olympic sailing regatta in the southern hemisphere.

Nicolai Sehested (DEN) and his TREFOR Match Racing Team clinched victory today at the Energa Sopot Match Race, Poland, the 10th stage and World Championship Event of the 2015 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT).

There was no stopping current, and five-time ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams (GBR), GAC Pindar today at the Energa Sopot Match Race as he swiftly dispatched his Quarter Final opponent Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) in three straight wins.

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) continues to address concerns and is taking steps to ensure the health and safety of all athletes who will be competing in the upcoming Aquece Rio, Olympic Test Event and the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

Veteran Polish match racer and America's Cup helmsman Karol Jablonski skilfully played the gusty conditions today to lead the twelve strong field of teams at the end of Day 2 of Qualifying at the 2015 Energa Sopot Match Race.